Irish boxing president 'delighted' at Olympics move

The President of the Irish Amateur Boxing Association, Dominic O'Rourke, has said he is delighted with today's decision by the International Olympic Committee to include women's boxing at the 2012 Olympic Games in London.

Mr O'Rourke said: "We are absolutely delighted with the historic decision of the International Olympic Committee to include women's boxing in the 2012 Olympic Games in London and we are delighted that Katie Taylor will be given this opportunity.

"Over the last number of years Katie has performed with a level of consistency rarely seen in international sport.

"In that period she has won World, European and European Union titles and has also won the 2008 AIBA World female boxer of the year award. We are all immensely proud of her achievements and she is a magnificent ambassador for our sport and Irish sport as a whole.

Mr O'Rourke thanked Katie and her father as well as Pat Hickey of the Olympic Council of Ireland for their work in boxing.

"I would also like to thank Mr John Treacy of the Irish Sports Council for all the work and help they have given us. The President of the AIBA, Dr Ching Kuo-Wu also deserves enormous credit as he has thrown the full weight of the AIBA behind the venture to get women's boxing included in the London Games.

"Irish amateur boxing has a very proud record at Olympic level and our squad performed with distinction at the last Olympics in Beijing.

"Katie will now be given the opportunity to try and add to that proud record and the Irish Amateur Boxing Association will lend her and all our other athletes all the support and help they need to try and realise their dreams of representing Ireland at the Olympic Games in London."